Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers had challenged the order, which requires all federal agencies to assist in increasing voter registrations and mobilization efforts.
The Supreme Court rejected the Republican challenge to President Joe Biden’s executive order on October 7, which sought to involve the government more in the voter registration and mobilization process. Justices denied the petition in Keefer v. Biden without any dissent.
The upcoming presidential and congressional elections are scheduled for November 5. State lawmakers in Pennsylvania had previously filed a petition to appeal an unfavorable ruling by a federal district court, which is currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
President Biden’s order tasks all federal agencies, including the prison system, with helping to boost voter registration and participation, as well as promote mail-in voting. Critics argue that Democrats are likely to benefit more from this order than the Republican Party. The lead petitioner in the case is Pennsylvania state Rep. Dawn Keefer, a Republican.
In the case, 27 Republican state lawmakers in Pennsylvania are disputing Executive Order 14019 issued by President Biden on March 7, 2021, which mandates all federal agencies to support voter registration and participation. The lawmakers argue that this order is unconstitutional and that voter registration drives are not a legitimate government function. They are also challenging an executive order issued by former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, regarding voter registration.
The lawmakers contended in their lawsuit that these executive actions violate their rights under the U.S. Constitution by encroaching on their authority to dictate the time, place, and manner of elections. However, Judge Jennifer Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissed the lawsuit on March 26, stating that the lawmakers did not have standing to challenge an action that allegedly injured the legislature as a whole.
The lawmakers have requested expedited consideration of the standing issue from the Supreme Court in hopes of obtaining a preliminary injunction in the district court before the November 2024 election.
This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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